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High Plains Weekly Drought Update - November 21, 2019
Author: Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2019-11-21 21:48:48
Updated:
Drought conditions continued to intensify in the southern part of the region this past week. Extreme drought (D3) was introduced in southwest Kansas after areas reported less than 15% of normal precipitation since September. The lack of precipitation has caused winter wheat to struggle to get established in this area. Severe drought (D2), moderate drought (D1), and abnormally dry (D0) conditions were expanded this past week across western Kansas and southern Colorado. Southern Wyoming experienced a slight expansion of D0 conditions.
Snow water equivalent (SWE) values in Colorado remained variable, with drought-stricken areas in the southwestern part of the state reporting below 50% of median. Overall, statewide SWE values for Colorado were 80% of median while Wyoming’s statewide SWE values were 122% of median.
The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances for below-normal temperatures except for southeastern Nebraska and eastern Kansas, while chances for above-normal precipitation are present throughout most of the High Plains. The 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast predicts that precipitation is likely in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, and parts of the Dakotas. The greatest amounts are expected in the mountainous areas of Colorado and Wyoming.
